Southern Illinois University
6-15, 1-7
Creighton
20-4, 7-1
Softball Splits Sunday Games With Creighton, Wins Series 2-1
03/30/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 30, 2003
Omaha, Neb. - Kelly Creek's three-run home run in the sixth inning gave Southern Illinois University a 4-2 come-from-behind win in game one of a Sunday doubleheader against Creighton. The Salukis lost the second game 3-2, splitting the doubleheader. SIU won the road series two games to one to improve to 20-5 overall, 7-2 in the MVC. The Saluki wins were the first under SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock at Creighton.
"Anytime we can win at Creighton it's good with our recent history up here. For us to take two of three games says a lot about our kids and we had a chance to win all three games. If you asked me at the beginning of the year, I would have said I'd be happy to win two of three games. We played our most complete game in the game we lost 3-2," Blaylock stated.
"The character of this team has been really amazing. We have battled to come back and Kelly Creek's two game-winning home runs have been great. We feel good about our kids battling to the end. Katie Louis stepped up big, Samantha Carter had a phenomenal weekend and Amy Harre really pitched well and did a great job with some new pitches."
Carter led off game one with her first career home run to leftfield to give SIU a 1-0 lead. Creighton added single runs in the fourth and seventh innings on multiple singles to take a 2-1 lead.
Carter opened the bottom of the sixth inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lauren Roney followed with a single to move Carter to third and advanced to second on a throwing error to set up Creek's heroics. Two batters later Creek hit her fifth home run off the glove of Bluejay leftfielder Melanie Dorsey, who had the ball for a moment before it bounced out and over the fence to give SIU a 4-2 lead and the winning runs.
Renee Mueller (7-1) picked up her first Valley win with six innings of work. Mueller struck out two, walked one and allowed eight singles. Harre came in to pitch the seventh inning and picked up her third save of the season.
Carter (2-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 runs), Creek (1-for-2, HR, 3 RBI, run) and Roney (1-for-3, run) led SIU in game one.
SIU opened game two with a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Katie Louis hit a solo home run and Adie Viefhaus' sacrifice fly scored Lindsey Bonnell. Creighton scored three runs on two home runs and a single to take a 3-2 lead and held on to win. The two home runs by the Bluejays were the first allowed by the Salukis in 25 games this season.
Amy Harre (11-4) suffered her first conference loss. Harre struck out a season-high ten batters and walked on one, while allowing ten hits, including her first two home runs allowed this season.
Tammy Nielsen (4-3) struck out ten and allowed four hits to get the win for Creighton. Adie Viefhaus (1-for-2, RBI), Roney (1-for-2), Louis (1-for-3, RBI) and Bonnell (1-for-3) led SIU in game two.
SIU faces #6 Nebraska at 4 p.m. on Monday at Bowlin Stadium to end its four day road trip.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Renee Mueller (7-1)
L: Plog (0-4)
S: Amy Harre (3)
Batting:
RBI: Nunnikhoven 1 ; Dorsey 1
SH: Ayers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Herbster 1 ; Trapp 1
Batting:
HR: Samantha Carter 1 ; Kelly Creek 1
RBI: Samantha Carter 1 ; Kelly Creek 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Samantha Carter 2 ; Lauren Roney 1 ; Kelly Creek 1
SB: Maria Damico 1
HBP: Maria Damico 1
